Improvement in seal-locks



G. R. DUNN.

Seal-Locks.

Patented July 1, 1873.

WrNEssEs:

PATE EEICE.

GEoEGE E. DUNN,'0E NEWARK, NEW JEEsEY.

IMPROVEMENT .IN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,486, dated July 1,1873; application iilcd June 19, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. DUNN, of Newark, in the county of Essexand in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Seal-Locks; and do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a perspective view of my device as arranged for use andsealed. Figs. 2 and 3 are like views, respectively, of the body orcasing and of the sliding hasp detached from each other. Fig. 4 is avertical central section of said lock upon a line with the sealingstrip.Fig. 5 is a cross-section upon line :c x of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the lookin g-block detached from the hasp.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The design of my invention is to enable a lock to be quickly andsecurely sealed so as to prevent it from being opened without detection;and it consists in the peculiar construction of the sealing or lockingkey, and of the openingsiu the casing and hasp, through which said keypasses, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawing, A'represents the casing of the lock, having thegeneral form of a rectangle, provided at its upper end with ahorizontally-projecting shoulder, A, and having within its main portiona vertical rectangular opening, B, asis seen in Fig. 2. Within theopening B is loosely fitted a correspondin gly-shaped sliding hasp, C,which has a length equal to about twice the length of said casing,

is provided at its upper end with a projecting shoulder, c, and at itslower end with a staple, c', for attaching thereto a chain. The upperend of the hasp C is round, as at C', and extends upward, outward, andthen downward in a curve, and at its outer end passes into acorresponding opening, a, formed within the shoulder A', said partsbeing so combined that, when said hasp is moved to its lowest point, asseen in Figs. l and 4, a staple, chain-link, &c., placed within thespace between the upper side of the casing A and the lower side of saidcurved part C', cannot -be withdrawn without said hasp is raised so asto remove itsl curved part from engagement with said opening a. rIhehasp C is locked in position within its casing by means of a thin stripof sheet metal, D, which passes horizontally through a correspondingopening formed in and through said parts. Y

In order that the strip or key D may be prevented from withdrawal andreplacement by unauthorized persons, a shoulder, d, is formed upon eachof its sides near its outer end, so as to prevent it from being passedinward beyond a certain point, while its movement in an oppositedirection is prevented by the following described construction of theopenin g through the hasp From its commencement at one side of the haspC to its opposite end, the opening c" extends sidewise and back in acurve, so as to cause the keyD to be bent within said hasp, although itenters and emerges from the casing in a straight line. Within the convexside of said opening-c is formed a groove, c, which, at its ends, hasthe full width of the same; but fromv the outside inward toward itscenter is contracted, so as to form two shoulders, c, which have,prefera bly, a right angle to the line of said opening. The inwardextended portions which form the shoulders c are curved transverselyfrom their outer sides inward,`so as to form trans verseand-longitudinal inclines, as seen iu Fig. 6. The key D is now at onepoint reduced in width upon lines corresponding to the interior edges ofthe portions which form the shoulders 0, such reduction forming uponsaid key twov shoulders, df, that occupy positions directly the reverseof those within said groove.

As thus constructed, if the key is inserted within the opening and movedforward, its shoulders d will bear upon and move over the inclines whichform the shoulders 0 until said shoulders d have passed the latter, whensaid key will spring to place and occupy a straight line, as seen inFig. 5.

As thus arranged it will'be seen that the shoulders c of the openingwithin Vthe bolt engaging with the shoulders df of thc key prevent theoutward withdrawal of the latter, while its further inward movement isprevented by the outer shoulders d.

To remove the key its outer end containing the shoulders d is brokenoli", after which, by

grasping its inner end, the remainder of said kcy may be withdrawn insuch direction.

It will be seen that While from their shape the shoulders cH" preventall outward movement of the key, they offer no obstruction to itsmovement in an opposite direction, as said key is raised upon or bymeans of the inclined sides of said shoulders, Which move said key outof the groove 0.

It is intended that certain peculiar distinguishing marks shall bestamped or otherwise affixed to the outer end of each key by the personsealing the lock, so that it shall not be practicable for others toremove the key and afterward replace it by another.

A further protection may be afforded by varying the position and shapeof the lockingshoulders, so as to prevent the use of all other keysexcept those especially tted to each lock.

It is thought, however, that the irstnamed precaution only will benecessary, so that all locks used upon a railroad, or throughout themouse country even, may be tted to receive one size and form of key.

This device is simple in construction, efcient in operation, is easilymanipulated, and can be furnished ata comparatively small cost.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and Witnesses:

CHARLEs BoRcHERLiNG, J r., ADOLPH HILTNER.

